Lance Berkman returned to the Cardinals’ lineup and played two games with a slightly torn calf muscle, but the first baseman suffered a setback while chasing a foul ball yesterday and said afterward that “the disabled list is a possibility for sure.”

Berkman explained to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch that if resting the injury for a week while on the active roster didn’t keep him from aggravating it almost immediately a longer absence might be needed.

For now he’s officially listed as day-to-day, but general manager John Mozeliak hinted that a roster move may be coming and at the very least Berkman is unlikely to play again until next week even if he avoids the DL.

Berkman was off to a great start, hitting .348 with a 1.022 OPS in seven games, but the good news for the Cardinals is that rookie fill-in Matt Carpenter has batted .375 with five extra-base hits and a 1.120 OPS in 10 games.

Put him on the DL, have him checked out and make sure he doesn’t do any major damage so we can have him later in the year. Matt Carpenter has been a great substitute, so I see no reason why Berkman shouldn’t be careful.

This early in the season they need to put him on the DL now. Injuries to the lower extremeties (above all others)…is the hardest of injuries to try to heal/recover from while playing.
Put him on the DL. One month…two months…as long as it takes.